Logan County Department of Public Health working with IDPH and CDC to protect local communities from Coronavirus

[March 14, 2020]   As the threat of coronavirus (COVID-19) continues throughout the U.S., Logan County Department of Public Health (LCDPH) is working daily with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the medical community, state and local responders to prevent COVID-19 from impacting the community while being prepared to prevent its spread. To date, all people identified in Illinois with COVID-19 are residing in the Chicago area.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) or through droplets expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can also be picked up by touching surfaces and then transmitted to the mouth, nose and eyes. Personal contact, such as a handshake with an infected person, can also be a mechanism for transmission.

If infected, the symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. These symptoms may include fever, cough or shortness of breath. If you feel you may have been exposed and develop these symptoms, call your healthcare provider immediately.

The CDC recommends you take the following steps to protect yourself:

• Wash your hands often with ample soap and water for at least 20 seconds and use hand sanitizer if soap is not readily available.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick and distance yourself between you and other people when possible.

• Stay at home if you are sick.

• Cover coughs and sneezes and throw away used tissues.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.

The CDC (WWW.CDC.GOV) and IDPH (WWW.DPH.ILLINOIS.GOV) provide great resources for the public to learn more about COVID-19 and how to prevent the spread by protecting you and the community. The Illinois Novel Coronavirus Hotline and e-mail address through IDPH in conjunction with the Illinois Poison Control Center is a 24 hour/7 day per week resource to provide up-to-date information, facts and to answer questions. In Illinois, you can dial 1-800-889-3931 or e-mail questions to [e-mail].

[Don Cavi, MS, LEHP
Public Health Administrator
Logan County Department of Public Health]